Apparatus responsive to abnormally hot conditions in machines



May 8, 1951 G. H. FRITZINGER 2,552,165

APPARATUS RESPONSIVE TO ABNORMALLY HOT CONDITIONS IN MACHINES Filed Dec. 7, 1944 INVENTOR. I; 1 1i Georgel-LFriiginqar N BY Z \41/ 4 3 .4 7

ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1951 APPARATUS RESPONSIVE T ABNORMALLY HOT CONDITIONS IN MACHINES George H. Fritzinger, West Orange, N. J assignor to Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, West Orange, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application December 7, 1944, Serial No. 567,076

9 Claims.

This invention relates especially to alarm systems for detecting overheated journal bearings of railway cars, and is particularly concerned with a novel signal-generating apparatus for such systems.

My invention provides an improved alarm system for detecting overheated bearings of railway cars, which is without any wires or physical connections between the car trucks and the cars or between the cars of a train, and which is especially adapted to fulfill the need for practical and dependable bearing alarm systems for freight trains. In this instance, the alarm must usually be given at a point remote from the car having the overheated bearing-for example, ahead in the locomotive or back in the caboose. This is accomplished in the present instance by a novel apparatus for giving an alarm by radio signaling.

The present control system includes a generator mounted within the journal housing of a railway car, but the mechanical features of this generator are not claimed herein since the same are described and claimed in my pending continuation-in-part application Serial No. 759,089, filed July 5, 1947, now Patent No. 2,476,719, dated July 19, 1949.

The objects of my invention are to provide a unitary signal-generating apparatus for bearing alarm systems which is adapted to be mounted on the truck of a railway car, which requires no batteries or other sources of potential, which operates to convert mechanical power taken from the moving car into electrical signal energy, which has however no mechanical coupling with the rotary portion of the car truck nor any parts which undergo wear when the alarm system is not in operation, which is adapted to be readily mounted in the journal housing of present-day railway cars wherein it is protected by the housing from the elements of the weather, dirt, cinders, etc., which is adapted to occupy only unused space within the journal housing, and which is of simple and economical construction.

These and other objects and features of my invention will more fully appear from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a view of a railway car wheel and journal housing showing a signal-generating apparatus incorporated within the housing according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view, to larger scale, taken through the journal housing on the line 22 of Figure 3 and showing the signal-generating apparatus in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and showing the signal-generating apparatus in front elevation;

Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of circuits and mechanism according to my invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative arrangement of the circuit system of Figure 4. I

In the accompanying drawings I show a preferred embodiment of my invention comprising a magneto l0 mounted within a standard outboard journal housing ll of a railway car. This magneto is normally in a condition incapable of generating high-tension current but is rendered operative to generate such current whenever a journal bearing of the car becomes overheated. This high-tension current is converted into a radio frequency signal wave and transmitted from the car truck having the overheated journal bearing. This wave is received at any desired point on the train, and is there amplified and fed into a suitable mechanism to give an audible and/or visible alarm. Such receiver and alarm mechanism may be standard equipment and need not be herein shown.

In the standard construction of journal boxes of railway cars there is the journal housing ll having within the top portion thereof a journal wedge l2 for supporting a bearing or brass l3 into which journals an axle I 4 of the car. The space below the axle is filled with an oil-soaked waste l5 which is inserted into and removed from the housing by way of a front opening having a cover or lid Ila. The space to the front of the axle and thereabove is however unused. Itis in this unused space that I mount the magneto l0. Thus, the magneto is closed in by the housing II and is protected from the elements of the weather and from dirt and cinders. Moreover, it will be observed that the magneto does not interfere with the waste [5 or obstruct the insertion and removal of the waste into and out of the housing.

A further important feature of my invention is that I utilize the journal of the railway car as the journal also for the magneto Hi and that I require no mechanical coupling of the magneto with any rotary portion of the car truck. Also, I require no batteries or other sources of potential. To these ends, the magneto is provided with a permanent magnet rotor, referred to as l6, which is mounted onto the end face of the axle l4 and held fixedly thereto by screws l1 as hereinafter explained. Cooperating with this rotor is a U-shaped field core (-8. This field core is mounted, preferably detachably, in the upp front part of the housing H and has a pair of field poles l9. Preferably, these field poles are spaced from the end of the axle l4 and positioned so that their common medial plane passes substantially through the center of the axle Hi and in substantially parallel relation with the horizontal. The faces l9a of these poles are made flat and positioned parallel with'the vertical, this being done in order that the rotor may not come into contact with the field poles as the bearing 13 wears. The field core is made of laminated material held together by screws 2!}. These screws also serveto retain mounting brackets 2| to the opposite legs of the core. 'These. brackets have turned-up flanges Zia provided with slots Zlb for detachable connection with screw heads 22 which are carried by the wedge l2- On the central part of the field core there is an induction coil 2.3 having primary and secondary windings 24 and 25 as schematically shown in Figure l. r

The rotor it comprises one or more permanent magnets 26-t-wo. being herein shownwhich are preferably made of one of the efiicient perma nent magnet materials known as Alnico. These magnets are positioned intermediately between the center of the axle I4 and the outer periphery thereof, and are so disposed that their magnetic axes are normal to the end face of the axle, this being done so that the magnetic material of the axle will not provide any substantial shunt for the flux of the magnets. Bridging the ends of the magnets which are adjacent to the axle is a nonpermanent magnetic member 21, and fitted to the outer end portions of the magnets are radiallyextending pole shoes 28. These pole shoes terminate on an are about the center of the axle I4-.- For holding the magnets and members 2'! and z'il in the assembled relation just described, the: same are housed, preferably cast, inia body 29' of non-magnetic material. In order that this rotor structure will not/pick up any of the waste 15 and carry it around within the housing H, the

body 29 is made cylindrical and provided with a smooth continuous exterior surface, the peripheral surface of the body being flush with the faces of the pole shoes 28 and the end face of the body being flush with the exposed sides of the. shoes 28 and ends of the magnets 26. It isv through this body 29 that the aforementioned screws ll extend to hold the rotor to the axle l4. Typically, the rotor It may have an axial (with respect to the axle [4) length of an inch or more, 1

and'may havea radial dimension equal to that of the end face of the axle 14.. If a rotor of longer axial dimension is employedwhich may be desired to permit the use of more efiicient shapes of permanent magnets-then its radial dimension is preferably reduced so that the rotor will not occupy any of the space through which the waste l5is. to pass as it is inserted into and removed from the housing I I;

The magneto 10 has a primary circuit 3!) which includes the primary winding 24 and a circuit breaker or interrupter 3 2 as shown in Figure 4. This interrupter is of the electrically-operable type comprising a field coil 33, preferably of low resistance, Whichis. wound on 9, magnetic core .34, and a. switch 35 including a stationary contact 36 and a movable contact or armature 3'! which is actuated electromagnetically to break the switch contacts upon energization of the field .coil 33. The field coil 33 and switch 35 are conbroken recurrently to cause high voltages to be induced in the secondary winding 25 of the induction coil. However, the interrupter is operatively disassociated from the primary circuit and left in an idle condition except when a journal bearing of the car becomes overheated as is herein next explained.

Associated with each journal bearing i3 is a thermostat 38. This thermostat comprises a pair of contacts (see Figure 4) either in a normally-open or normally-closed condition, one of which contacts is thermally responsivefor example, made of a bimetal-so that the thermostat is operated when it is heated to a predetermined temperature. Typically, the thermostat is enclosed in an evacuated cylindrical casing 38a, and this casing is inserted in a well provided in the journalbearing H3 at a point adjacent to the axle [4 as indicated in Figure 3. By way of illustrative example, there may be provided one magneto H] for each car truck 48 as indicated in Figure 4. There is however a thermostat 38 associated with each of the four journal bearings cf the car truck as diagrammatically indicated, and all thermostats are connected in the primary circuit 36. Inthe present instance, each thermostat 38 is considered as being normally open, in which case each is connected in series with the interrupter 32 and primary winding 24 but in parallel relation with each other. This is done, for example, by grounding a contact of each thermostat 38 to the truck, as at M, likewise grounding one side of the primary winding 24 at 42, connecting the other contact of each thermostat by a lead 43 to the interrupter, and connecting the other side of the interrupter to the primary winding. Thus, the primary circuit is maintained normally open and the interrupter is normally unergized and idle. As a result, there are no high voltages induced in the secondary windingit being understood that the voltages induced directly by rotation of the rotor [6 are very small-and accordingly the magneto is in a normally-inoperative condition.

When however any one of the journal bearings of the car truck becomes overheated, the respective associated thermostat 38 is operated to close the primary circuit, the interrupter is then put into operation and high voltages are induced in the secondary winding 25.

The secondary winding is connected to a pair of electrodes forming a spark gap 44 and also to the primary of a radio frequency transformer 45, the secondary of this transformer being tuned to a predetermined frequency by a condenser 46. The, spark electrodes and tuned radio frequency transformer, referred to generally as 4?, form with the magneto Ii) a radio frequency generator. One side f the transformer 45 is grounded at 48 and the other is connected by a lead 49 to an antenna 50. The operation of the radio frequency generator is as follows: When the primarycircuit 30 is broken by the interrupter 32 the field of the primary current collapses and a train of high-voltage impulses is impressed across the spark gap 44. The gap is broken down by these voltage impulses and in response thereto radio frequency oscillations are induced in the tuned secondary of the transformer 45. These oscillations are fed to and transmitted by the antenna 59. This antenna may be mounted in any desired position, but is preferably located on the car truck 40. By way of example, it may be mounted at a side of the car truck, being supported thereon at the ends by insulators 50a as indicated in Figure 4.

In Figure 5, I show a circuit system for normally-closed thermostats 51, it being understood that there is one such thermostat for each journal bearing as hereinbefore explained. Now, however, the thermostats are connected in series with each other, and the group thereof is connected in shunt with both the primary winding 24 and the interrupter 32. This is done, for example, by grounding one side of the primary winding again at 42, one side of the group of thermostats at 52, one side of the interrupter at 53, and then connectin the other sides of the primary winding, thermostat group and interrupter together by a lead wire 54. When the bearings are in normal condition, the thermostats 5! provide a direct short across the interrupter and the interrupter is effectively disassociated from the primary winding. If, however, one of the bearings becomes overheated, the short on the interrupter is removed, with the result that the current from the primary winding 24 is fed through the interrupter. The primary circuit is accordingly broken and high-voltage impulses are induced in the secondary winding.

The components 32 and 41 of the radio frequency generator are mounted as units on the core [8 in hermetically sealed containers referred to in Figure 3 by the numerals 32a and "a respectively, the sealing being done so that oil spray and fumes may not get into contact with the switch contacts or the electrodes of these units. Thus the whole radio frequency generating system is contained within the journal housing and only two leads need be brought out of the housing, which are the lead 43 from the interrupter to the thermostats 38 or 5| and the lead 49 from the component 41 to the antenna 50. Additionally, the stator structure of the generating apparatus, and the interrupter 32 and source 47, may be removed as a unit upon detaching the brackets 21 from the screw heads 22, which is done simply by lifting the apparatus upwardly and then outwardly from the housing.

Such detachable mounting of the apparatus is advantageous in facilitating the replacement of worn-out bearings. In order however that the apparatus will be firmly mounted within the housing there is a pair of springs 55, secured to the brackets 2!, which engage the top wall of the housing and urge the apparatus downwardly to maintain engagement of the brackets 2! with the screw heads 22.

While I have herein particularly shown and described my invention in terms of a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that this embodiment is subject to changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention which I endeavor to express according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a system responsive to overheating of a journal bearing of a railway car: the combination of a normally-inoperative magneto having primary and secondary circuits comprising intercoupled low-voltage and high-voltage windings; a thermostat thermally associated with said journal bearing and a device responsive to said thermostat upon overheating of said bearing of said truck for recurrently interrupting said primary circuit whereby high-tension currents are induced in said secondary circuit.

2. In a system responsive to overheatin of a journal bearing of a railway car: the combination of a normally-inoperative magneto-electric generator including a rotor mounted on a rotary portion of a truck of said car and a cooperating stator mounted on a relatively fixed portion of said truck, said stator including an induction coil having a normally open primary circuit; an electrically energizable circuit interrupter adapted when supplied with electric power to break recurrently its own circuit; and means responsive to overheating of a bearing of said truck for closing said primary circuit through said circuit interrupter.

3. In a system responsive to overheating of a journal bearing of a railway car: the combina tion of a magneto-electric generator mounted on a truck of said car and driven by a rotary portion thereof, said generator including an induc tion coil having primary and secondary windings; an electrically-energizable circuit interrupter adaptable when supplied with current to break recurrently its own circuit; and a normally-open thermostat associated with said journal bearing and connected serially with said interrupter and the primary winding of said induction coil for closing the primary winding of said generator through said interrupter when said bearing is overheated.

' 4. In a system responsive to overheating of a journal bearing of a railway car: the combination of a magneto-electric generator mounted on a truck of said car and driven by a rotary portion thereof, said generator including an induction coil having primary and secondary circuits; an electrically-energizable circuit interrupter of the type which when supplied with power breaks recurrently its own circuit; means associated with said journal bearing and responsive to overheating thereof for connecting said interrupter in said primary circuit; a pair of spark electrodes connected in said secondary circuit; and a tuned circuit for transmitting radio frequency oscillations from said spark electrodes.

5. An apparatus responsive to overheating of a journal bearing comprising a radio frequency signal generator including a magneto operable by the shaft associated with said bearing; means for abl-in and disabling said magneto to render said generator operative and inoperative to produce radio frequency oscillations; and thermally-responsive means associated with said bearing and controlling said last-stated means to put said generator into operation upon overheating of said bearing.

6. A radio signalling apparatus for detecting overheated bearings on a railway car, said apparatus being adapted to be mounted within a journal housing of said car, comprising a magneto-electric generator including a permanent magnet rotor mounted on a portion of the car axle within said housing; a field core cooperating with said rotor; an induction coil on said field core having primary and secondary windings; an electrically-energizable circuit interrupter for said primary winding said interrupter being of a type which when supplied with power breaks recurrently its own circuit; a thermostat associated with said journal bearing for operatively connecting said interrupter with said primary winding; a source of radio frequency oscillations energized by said secondary winding; and hermetically-sealed means enclosing said interrupter and oscillation source.

7. In a system for a-machine having 2. normally-rotating member, said system being adapted to operate in response to the development of an abnormally hot condition in said machine: the combination of a magneto having primary and secondary circuits comprising intercoupled low-voltage and high-voltage windings, and a rotor coupled to said rotating memher and driven thereby; an electrically-energizable interrupter for breaking recurrently said primary circuit to cause high-tension current to be produced in said secondary circuit; and a switch device normally positioned to maintain said interrupter in an idle'condition, said switch device including means operated in response to the development of said abnormally hot condirent to said interrupter and having a normal 11 position wherein it causes the interrupter to remain normally in an idle condition, said switch device being responsive to the development of said abnormally hot condition for causing current to be supplied to said interrupter whereby the interrupter is energized to break recurrently 8 the circuit of the primary winding and cause intermittent high-tension currents to be produced in said secondary winding.

91. In a system responsive to overheating of a journal bearing of a railway car: the combination of a magneto-electric generator mounted on a truck of said car and driven by a rotary portion thereof, said generator including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings; an electrically-energizable circuit interrupter connected in a closed circuit with said primary winding, said interrupter being of the type which when supplied with power breaks recurrently its own circuit; and a normally-closed thermostat associated with said journal bearing and opened when said bearing becomes overheated, said thermostat being connected in parallel relation with both said interrupter and said primary winding.

GEORGE H. FRITZINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,951 Moskowitz Nov. 24, 1896 1,239,450 Banneyer Sept. 11, 1917 1,258,154 Shepard et al. Mar. 5, 1918 1,308,925 Betz July 8, 1919 1,441,307 Swanberg Jan. 9, 1923 1,497,194 Norden et a1. June 10, 1924 1,561,452 Alden Nov. 17, 1925 1,747,041 Alexanderson Feb. 11, 1,930 1,867,508 Huber July 12, 1932 1,919,693 Faus July 25, 1933 1,996,946 vBeeh Apr. 9, 1935 2,203,414 Knaack June 4, 1940 2,313,916 Bone et al. Mar. 16, 1943 2,315,065 Livingston Mar. 30, 1943 

